Potato digger



8- 1950 o. A. CLARK 2,516,957

' POTATO BIGGER Filed March 25, 1947 2 Sheefcs-Sheet 1 awe/Mm Aug. 1,1950 o. A. CLARK- 2,515,957

POTATO DIGGER Filed March 3, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PAIEN'I OFFICE .TPOTATO BIGGER'iOtho A: Clark, Atlierton; Mo. n lieatiomMmma, 194?;asma1:Ne-732.068

- 7 Claims. (Cl..55,-51

This invention rrelates to agricultural implewments and moreparticularly-to potatodiggers of the :kind particularly adapted formounting upon and operation by a tractor, not-onlyby rea- Ison of itsbeing motivated over the field of potatoes to be harvested but byreceiving power di- ..rectly from thepowertake-ofi of thetractor as.wellas the power liftthereof.

The most important object of this invention is to provide a potatodigger havinga specially designed conveyor for elevating the (lugpotatoes to'a point-of discharge into a container therefor, whichconveyor automaticallyremoves virtually all dirt and othermatterclingingto said potatoes and additionallyto provideunique-meansforreirnovin'g the potato vines from such'dug potatoes asthe-latter move along. said conveyorandprior to the discharge of thesame into said container.

Another important object of this invention is to providea potato digger.having the aforesaid conveyor means and an assemblybooprablewith theconveyor for moving the vines Whichfneeessarily cling to and movetherealong provided with a number of resilient arms disposedito bearagainst .said vines-andpress the same against an elongatedpanelcoextensive with thec'onveyor 'tolthe Ivendtha'tthevines areretardedin their path of movement and the potatoes removed therefrom asthe same are caused to continue movement along said conveyor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a potato diggerhaving unique digging means as a part'thereof associated directlywiththe above described conveyor and taking the 'form of: asharp share whichdigging means and conveyor, as well as the aforesaid vine removingassembly, areallmountedwas a unitary "structure upon a swingable frameoperatedby the power lift of the tractor wherebythe'depth atwhich saidshare digs into the ground-containing the potatoes is renderedselective.

One of the mostdifiicult'" problems in this field, in addition toproviding positive and efle'ctive "means for removing vinesfrom potatoesprior to their being transported into "suitable containers, is tocompensate for different types of soihand particularly that which tendsto move into the "digger'in large lumps orclods and thereby causingclogging ordamage to the operating me'cha- *nism therefor and oftentimescausing gre'at delays r in the harvesting operation.

Itis oneof-gthe primaryobjects of thisinvention therefore, 1 to provideralpotato digger; having .the vine removing assembly and .thecconveyorand digging means :all mounted 'cnqa unitary frame and to provide meansfor selectirvelylmov- Wvention and showing the samein operative at-Ltachment to a tractor.

Eig Z is a rear perspective view thereof. 1 Fig- 3 is. a fragmentary.detailed view partially .infsection taken on line III-III of Fig. l andllookinglin the direction of the arrows.

,IFig. 4 is "a [fragmentary cross sectional view itakenon line IV--IV'of Fig. Byand Fig/5 is an enlarged detailedsectional view taken on lineV-V of Fig.3.

The tractori shown in Figsnl and 2 of the drawings obviously is forillustrative purposes only fan'd it iscontemplated that anyyof manydifferent types ,of tractors may be "used, provided only that thesamehas aip'ower take-off and a power lift lof fone of the many typescommonlyemploye'd.

This tractor broadly designated by the numeral lfliisofjthecommonlycalled row-crop typeof jtractor"to'the"end thatthe rear wheels I? may"be extended upon "their axis to the condition shownin the drawings,whereby the entire potato "digger assembly may be interposed-between onei of wheels lland-thebbdy of tractor ll] andswingably mounted {on therearaxle thereof.

Ihe potato-digger per se includes a frame 14 which is swingablymounte'don the "reara'xle of tractor ll] in any suitable manner (not shown) Lto-the end that the digging blade orshar-e 6 may be iraise'd and :loweredin a manner hereinafter rmore fullyrsetrdown. Frame [4 carriesiawcon-\tinuous web-like conveyor 1 8 :whichextends .the -,entire length .offrame 14 and;passes around a gpairzofddlerslfl mounted inyspacedrelationat the-lowermost: end of frame l4 and thisconveyor .l8 passes upwardlyand around a shaft 22 at the .up'perrnostendwof this frame [4. In otherWords, frame andflthe conveyor I'8 "carried thereby areinormallydispos'ed at anincline'd angle. and the 'pdtatoesplugby theshare iii are elevated upwardly for deposit on a secondary conveyor 24"which extendsrearwardly of tractor I0. Each "df these cenveyors l8-wand24 is formedsubstan- -::tial1y:-identical-and comprise a pluralityof spaced tapart 1.130 and-.132 respectively. These -links 3 areinterconnected through the medium of loops 24 and 28 respectively formedin each end thereof as is clear in the drawings. Such construction ofthese web conveyors I8 and 24 permit any dirt and clods of dirt to fallfrom the potatoes being elevated thereby prior to movement of thepotatoes into a container (not shown) at the free end of the conveyor24.

The means for operation of both conveyors I8 and 24 i through the powertake-ofi 34 of the tractor III. This power take-off 84 drives a reducer36 by means of a belt 38, which reducer 38 in turn is operably attachedto the shaft 22.

This shaft 22 has a pair of sprockets 40 near each side of the conveyorI8 over which the links 30 thereof pass and a sprocket 42 on the shaft22 is operably connected to the conveyor 24 by a chain 44. in anysuitable manner.

The precise construction of the frame 48 supporting the conveyor 24 andthe way in which the same is driven by shaft 22 and its sprocket 42,forms no part of this invention and therefore, it i not necessary tofurther explain the same. It is suffioe to point out that this frame 46is supported on the tractor I!) through the medium of a frame 48extending upwardly therefrom and a pair of tie rods 58 and 52 joined totractor I pair of sprockets 62 and84 at the lowermost and A upper endsthereof respectively. Sprocket 64 is secured to a vertical shaft 86mounted upon a bracket 88 extending rearwardly from tractor I0 and isdriven by a pair of pulleys Ill and I2 on shaft 22 and the lowermost endof shaft 88 respectively through the medium of an interconnecting belt14. Sprocket wheel 82 is likewise secured to a rotatable shaft I8mounted in a manner hereinafter more fully described. Obviously, thiscontinuous chain 58' travels in the same direction as the conveyor I8and as the same passes around the back side of panel 54, a channel-likeguide I8 holds the same against interference with parts of the tractorI8.

A V-shaped yoke member 89 extends upwardly from the frame I4 near thenormally forward end thereof and a pair of arms 82 fixed to this yokemember 88 extend forwardly and upwardly therefrom to join with the powerlift assembly about to be described. This assembly comprises a shaft 84extending across the front end of tractor Ill and pivotally mounted in asleeve 88 held in place by brackets 88 secured to the tractor I0. A pairof links 99 and 92 fixed to each end of the shaft 48 provide means forinterconnecting this shaft 84 with the arms 82 and the tractor powerlift respectively. A link 94 pivotally secured at each end thereof tothe free end of link 90 and the free ends of arms 82 respectively and arod 98 having one end thereof pivotally mounted on the free end of link92 and the opposite end thereof joined to the power lift mechanism oftractor In (not shown), complete the lifting or raising and loweringmeans for the lowermost swingable end of the entire structure includingframe I4 and the conveyor I8.

The power lift of tractor I0 is of the well known Hydralic type or thelike commonly understood by those experienced in this field andtherefore, the same has not been shown nor is it necessary to furtherdescribe its operation. Movement of the link 92 by rod 96 to swing inthe manner indicated by the arrows illustrated in Fig. 1, obviouslyraises and lowers the frame I4 and all of its component parts throughthe arms 82 and yoke 84 as link 94 moves in a substantially verticalarcuate path of travel.

A second yoke-like member 98 substantially complementary in form to theyoke 88 is disposed for sliding movement within this yoke as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 3 and is guided through its substantially verticalpath of travel within the yoke 80 in the manner shown by Fig. 5 of thedrawings. This Fig. 5 clearly illustrates that each of the yokes 88 and98 is L-shaped in cross sectional contour and one of the legs of yoke 98is disposed in overlapping relation with a parallel disposed leg of theyoke 80. The other leg of yoke 98 has an L-shaped bracket I09 fixedthereto and in overlapping relation with the yoke 89. There are two ofthese brackets I00 as illustrated in Fig. 3 disposed near the lowermostfree ends of the yoke 98.

The means for raising and lowering of yoke 98 within the outermost yoke80 comprises a trigger I02 pivotally secured to yoke 98 at the uppermostend thereof and joined to an operating lever I94 through the medium ofan interconnecting rod I06. Extending laterally and forwardly from oneof the free ends of yoke 98 is a bracket I08 for rotatably supportingthe vertical shaft I8 and the lowermost end of the arcuate panel 54. Theother free end of the yoke member 98' has a bracket IIU similar to thebracket I88 and extending laterally and forwardly therefrom forrotatably mounting another vertical shaft H2 at one end thereof remotefrom yoke 98. The uppermost ends of these shafts I8 and H2 are eachsupported by laterally extending arms I I4 having one end thereofsecured to and movable with the yoke 98. This shaft H2 is driven bymeans of a pair of pulleys IIS on the shafts I6 and H2, which pulleys II6 are operably interconnected by a V-belt or the like II8. Thelowermostend of the shaft II2 has a sprocket I20 fixed thereon and an idlersprocket I22 rotatably mounted on the bracket I II] in spaced relationto this sprocket I20, receives a short continuous chain I24, which chainin turn passes around sprocket I20 and has a number of laterallyprojecting spaced apart fingers I28 thereon.

Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the normally innermost end' ofthe bracket III) is an elongated member I28 substantially co-extensivewith. the panel 54 and extending a distance beyond the uppermost end ofthe conveyor I8, which member I28 has a plurality of curved laterallyprojecting resilient arms I39 mounted thereon. The sprockets 62 and I20and the chains 58 and I24 respectively are, therefore, in spaced apartrelation and the bracket I I9 is disposed at an angle to the end thatshort chain I24 converges toward. the chain 58 as the uppermost endthereof is approached. Similarly,the member I28 and the arms I30 carriedthereby progressivelyapproach thepanel 54 and the chain 58 immediatelytherebelow as the uppermost ends of panel-54 and member I28 areaproached w.

thereof on aeentralvlinawith. respectoto-cone veyor I8 and-these edgeswhich diverge rfromthis forward? point are I sharpened in, the .usualmanner. Share: I6 has a. length 1 which extends I entirely across: the,lowermost forward endof the conveyor 18. Spacedapartfingers I32- extendforwardly and are :mounted .upon the'frame I 4 to serve as a; means forguiding the potato vines between-thechainsSB and I24 asrthezentireassembly; is placed into. operation. I I

Assuming allthe. componentpar-ts of the: potato digger, to be formed Iand assembled-as above set forth, the operation. is as follows:

As tractor I a is caused. to move .forwardly, the operatorthereof,through the medium of the power lift mechanism of-,tractor. I0, lowersthe digging share IE to thevdesiredtdepth. This action, takes placeupon, rotative motionxof: the

shaft 34 and consequent loweringoftheyoke 80 and the frame Idicarriedthereby as this frame swings on its supporting means and-connectionwiththe rear axle-of tractor I0.

It is notable that. all of the above described parts, including, thevine removing; mechanism formed by chains 58:and-l24,;as well as thearms I30, move with the frame I4 throughout its verticalswingingmovement. As the power take-off 34 of tractor I0 is placed intooperation to drive the shaft 22, both conveyor I8 and the conveyor 24are caused to movein. a, direction toward the rear of "tractor Ill; thechain 58 is driven through the medium of its drive shaft '66 and theshort chain l2lI is caused to move inthe same directionas chain 58 andthe; conveyors I8 and 24 because of the belt Ilflnbeingrtwistedinthe-manner illustrated in Fig.1 of, the. drawings. Asthe digging bladeI6 moves forwardly beneath the surface of the groundandbelow thepotatoes to be dug, these potatoes, the vines attached thereto and a;large portion of the-dirt surrounding the same, will move, on, toconveyor I8 for elevation toward the rearmost end: of tractor I0. Thevinesof the potatoes willbepcaused towmove in this same directionbecause of the actionpfthe fingers fiIland I 26 of. chains :58andI2'4respectively, and as these vines come into contact with theresilient arms I30, they will be pressed tightly against chain 58 andthe panel member 54, causing their advance to be slightly retarded.

As this action takes place, the potatoes which are clinging to thesevines and being elevated by conveyor I8, will continue to pass upwardlyand because of the retarding action of the vines, will be torntherefrom. As the potatoes reach the uppermost end of conveyor I8, thesame will fall on to conveyor 24 and the vines which have been torntherefrom will continue to pass upwardly and around the upwardly curvedend of panel 54 to drop behind tractor Ill and away from the conveyor24. This same action obviously takes place with respect to any weeds orother extraneous growth and since the dirt from the dug potatoes hasbeen shaken off by the links 38 and 32 of the respective conveyors,these potatoes will move into their containers virtually clean and readyfor subsequent shipment.

It is well known that as share I6 excavates the potatoes and surroundingsoil, large chunks of earth are oftentimes moved on to the conveyor I8and would normally tend to move against the sprockets 62 and I and tendto lodge between conveyor I8 and the chains 58 and I24. This may beeliminated by manipulation of the lever 6 IM to; move yokeQB, up or downto the -end-.that the space between conveyor I8 and the chains 58and I24maybe variedin'accordancev with the size-of lumps movingon to conveyorI8.

In the drawingsland specification, there has been'set forthrthepreferredembodiment of the inventioniand although specific terms are em:- ployed,they are used only in a generic and descriptive senseand not forpurposes of; limitation, the scopev of the inventionbeingset forth bythe appended claims;

Having thus, described theinvention, whatris claimed as new anddesiredto be. seoured by Let:- ters. Patent is: r

1. A. potato digger adapted for mounting upon andoperation byautractoror thelike comprising a frame attached to said tractor; digging means onsaid frame; av conveyor carried by the, frame for receiving the dugpotatoes from saiddiseing means; structure joined-to the-frameforraising and lowering the same to andfronra position rendering thedigging means operable; mechae nism connected-with said conveyor foroperating the, same; and an assembly for removing the vines from saiddugpotatoes as the same are moved from thedigging means by the conveyor,said assembly comprising, means abovethe conveyor for advancing thevines in the directionxoff travel of, said conveyor, means extendingalong the conveyor for guiding the vines, andyieldablemeans disposed, tohold the vines against the guiding meansfor retarding the advance of.said vines as the potatoes thereon are continuously moved by theconveyor in said direction of travel,

2. A potato digger adapted for mounting upon andoperation by a tractoror the, likecomprising a frame attached I to said tractor; digging meanson said frame; a conveyor carriediby the frame for receivingthe dugpotatoes from said digging means; structurejoined tothe frame 1 forraising and lowering the same to and Home position rendering the diggingmeans operable; mechanism connected with said conveyor, for operatingthe same; apparatus on the frame above the conveyor for advancingvineson saiddug potatoes in the-direction of travel: of said conveyor.; meansabove the conveyor for guiding said .vinesthroueh their path of travelalong the conveyor; and means cooperable with said guide means forretarding the advance of said vines whereby the same are removed fromthe potatoes as the latter are caused to continue to move by theconveyor, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of resilientmembers adapted to press the vines against the guide means as the samemove therealong.

3. A potato digger adapted for mounting upon and operation by a tractoror the like comprising a frame attached to said tractor; digging meanson said frame; a conveyor carried by the frame for receiving the dugpotatoes from said digging means; structure for raising and lowering theframe to and from a position rendering the digging means operable;operating mechanism for said conveyor; an endless chain extendinglongitudinally along said conveyor and having fingers thereon foradvancing vines on said dug potatoes away from the digging means; andmeans for retarding the advance of said vines whereby the same areremoved from the potatoes as the latter are caused to continue to moveby the conveyor, said retarding means comprising a member having aplurality of spaced resilient arms and a guide panel for said vines,said member and said panel being co-extensive with the conveyor andconverging as the ends thereof opposite to said digging means areapproached.

4. A potato digger adapted for mounting upon and operation by a tractoror the like comprising a frame attached to said tractor; digging meanson said frame; a conveyor carried by the frame forreceiving the dugpotatoes from said digging means; structure for raising and lowering theframe to and from a position rendering the digging means operable;operating mechanism for said conveyor; an endless chain extendinglongitudinally along said conveyor and having fingers thereon foradvancing vines on said dug potatoes away from the digging means; andmeans for retarding the advance of said vines whereby the same areremoved from the potatoes as the latter are caused to continue to moveby the conveyor, said retarding means comprising a member having aplurality of spaced resilient arms and a guide panel for said vines,said member and said panel being coextensive with the conveyor andconverging as the ends thereof opposite to said digging means areapproached, said ends of the member and the panel extending laterallybeyond the proximal end of said conveyor for depositing the vinesseparately from the potatoes.

5. In a potato digger adapted for mounting upon a tractor or the like, aframe swingably attached to said tractor; digging means on said frame; aconveyor carried by the frame for receiving the dug potatoes from saiddigging means; structure joined to the frame for swinging the same toand from a position rendering the digging means operable; a shiftableassembly carried by the frame and swingable therewith for removing thevines from said dug potatoes as the same are moved from the diggingmeans by the conveyor, said assembly having parts spaced above theconveyor and adjacent the digging means for guiding the vines thereinto;and means joined to said parts for shifting the same relative to theframe to and from predetermined positions above the conveyor.

6. In a potato digger of the kind described, a conveyor for moving dugpotatoes to a container therefor; a potato vine removing assembly havinga pair of spaced apart endless chains, each having lateral fingersthereon for moving the vines inwardlyfrom one end ofthe conveyor as thechains aredriven;- supporting structure for the chains mounted forvertical shifting movement above said end of the conveyor, one of saidchains being coextensive with the conveyor, the other chain beingrelatively short; and a series of arms for holding the vines againstsaid one chain, said arms extending-fromsaid short chain.

7. In a potato digger of the kind described, a conveyor for 'moving dugpotatoes to a container therefor; a potatovine removing assembly havinga pair of spaced apart endless chains, each having lateral fingersthereon for moving the vines inwardly from one end of the conveyor asthe chains-are driven; supporting structure for the chains mounted forvertical shifting movement above said end of the conveyor, one of saidchains being coextensive with the conveyor, the other chain beingrelatively short; and a series of arms for holding the vines againstsaid one chain, said arms extending along the conveyor and the one chainfrom said short chain and being formed from resilient material forretarding the speed of advance of the vines, whereby the vines andpotatoes are separated as the potatoes are moved by the conveyor at aspeed greater than the speed of the vines.

OTHO A. CLARK.

REFERENCES @I'IED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

